Carton package



Jah. 17, 1961 J v. FISHER Re. 24,925

CARTON PACKAGE Original Filed Sept. 9, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOHN V. FISHER BY (I f W;

ATT'YS FISHER CARTON PACKAGE 2 Sheets-s 2 Original Filed Sept. 9, 1954 INVENTOR, JOHN ER vBY I} ATT'Y United States Patent Ofific e Re. 24,925 Reissued Jan. 17, 1961 CARTON PACKAGE John V. Fisher, deceased, late of Los Angeles, Calif., by Constance M. Fisher, administratrix, Hollywood, Calif., assignor to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Original No. 2,889,040, dated June 2, 1959, Ser. No. 454,938, Sept. 9, 1954. Application for reissue July 11, 1960, Ser. No. 42,187

3 Claims. 01. 20665).

This invention relates to cartons for packaging and displaying canned goods or other products packaged in cylindrical or substantially cylindrical containers. The invention is essentially an improvement on the so-called six pack cartons such, for example, as is disclosed in US. Letters Patent 2,611,527 issued to me on September 23,

The primary object of the invention is to provide means whereby the filling end of the carton may be closed and locked in the closed position by engagement with the contents of the carton and without the necessity of glue, staples or equivalent anchoring material.

Another object is to provide for the easy opening of a carton of this general type without tearing or otherwise destroying the value of the carton.

These and other objects will more fully appear from the following description and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a carton blank embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the blank illustrating how it is folded to provide a continuous strip prior to the packaging operation;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the carton formed from the blank shown in Fig. 1 but with the filling end wide open;

Fig. 4 is a partially cut away perspective view of the carton with the filling end partially closed;

Fig. 5 is a partially cut away perspective view of the carton with the filling end closed; and

Fig. 6 shows a modified form of the closing flap provided with an ear for easy opening.

The invention is adaptable to any six-sided carton and relates primarily to the closing and locking of one end of the carton. This will normally be the filling end although the invention is applicable to the opposite end. The sides may be solid or partially open, as desired. The end panel opposite the filling end may likewise be either solid or not. Any desired means may be employed for forming the carton and anchoring the four sides and the end panel opposite the filling end. The present invention, as stated, is directed primarily to the closing of the filling end of the carton after it has been filled. This is accomplished, as will hereinafter be more fully described, by providing a pair of closing panels which are adapted to close all or a portion of the filling end, said closing panels being associated with a pair of anchoring fiaps hinged to swing vertically with respect to the cans after they are packed in the carton. The radius of each anchoring flap is made somewhat greater than the distance between the hinge line of the flap and the adjacent can so that the anchoring flap may be bent somewhat and forced past said can, whereby the flap is prevented from swinging back past the can and hence the flap and its assoelated closing panel are locked in the closed position.

Referring to Fig. 1 the blank is provided with four parallel fold lines which define the four side panels A A B, C, and D, panel A -A being initially in two sections, before the ends of the blank are joined, as shown in Fig. 2.

The portion of the blank which becomes the filling end of the carton in the preferred embodiment of the invention (although it could serve equally as the opposite end if desired) consists of the anchoring flap 10, the anchoring flap 11, which is initially in two segments as shown, and the closing panels 12 and 13.

The anchoring flaps and closing panels are hinged to the edges of the panels A A B, C, and D, as shown, and with respect to each other, for movement inwardly when the ends of the blank are overlapped, as indicated at 5a and 5b, and glued or otherwise secured together, as shown in Fig. 2.

The opposite end of the carton may, as stated, he closed by any desired method. The drawings indicate the conventional glued tab method whereby closing strips 15, 16, each provided with tabs 17, are folded inwardly across the end of the carton and anchored in that position by gluing the tabs 17 to the adjacent side panel of the carton. This provides a two-section end panel 15-16. For a machine operation there may be substituted for the glued tab the automatic anchoring tab assembly as shown in my copending application, Serial No. 454,975, filed September 9, 1954, now Patent No. 2,943,427 which is also a two-section panel. Likewise, if desired, said opposite end may be closed in the same manner as hereinafter described for closing the filling end.

The anchoring flaps 10 and 11 are provided with diagonal fold lines 18, each of which begins at one corner of the panel to which the flap is hinged, and thence extends inwardly to the outer edge of the flap at an angle of approximately 45 to said hinge line. This angle may be varied a few degrees one way or the other. The outer portion of each anchoring flap between the diagonal fold line 18 and the adjacent edge of the closing panel is preferably cut away, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The primary advantage of a pair of such cut-away notches, horizontally aligned on opposing side panels, is to provide an entrance notch and an exit notch for the opening plows used when the carton is opened and filled mechanically.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that as anchoring flaps 10 and 11 are folded inwardly, the portion of each flap outside of the diagonal fold lines 18 will fold along fold line 18 and along the flap hinge line, thus drawing the closing panels 12 and 13 across the filling end of the carton and toward the closing position shown in Fig. 5.

When the anchoring flaps 10 and 11 have been swung through the closing panels 12 and 13 will be approximately at right angles to the side panels of the carton but will not, as yet, be anchored in that position.

As is best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the radius of each of the anchoring flaps 10 and 11 (by which is meant the distance between the flap hinge line and the outer extremity of each flap) is greater than the distance between the flap hinge line and the nearest surface of the adjacent can. Hence if each anchoring [closing] flap is moved inwardly further along its hinge line, the outer end of each flap will first engage the periphery of the can and, upon further movement in the same direction, will bend and then straighten out and be locked against the back of the can.

The practical limitations on the radius of each anchoring flap are, therefore, that it should be greater than the distance between the flap hinge line and the surface of the nearest can, and further, as will be presently ex-- plained, it should preferably be less than the radius of;

anchoringflap were greater than the: can diarneter it would" not only be more difiicult to force the-flap past the can, but it would also unduly cramp the flapbehind the can-because, astwillbe noted from Figure 5, the distance 20=from the hingeline tothe point where the can abuts against the sidesof the carton is equivalent to the diameter-of the can. The essential 'factor is that the outer edge; of each anchoring fiapimust, when swung into anchoring position, as above set forth, describe an are which at intermediate pointzinter-sects' to a slight degree the arc defined by the circumference of the nearest: can.

Fig.j=6 illustrates amodification of the flap which provides an answer to the annoying problem of easily openingacarton-of thistype A three sided cut 21 in the central portion of each closing flap and a score line'22 at the base: of the cutprovides a pull tab 23 on'each closing flap: A slight pullon eachof'the pull-tabs 23 will readily returntthe cartonvto-ithe openposition as shown in Fig..'3. Thisyopeningoperation, as will be seen, will not tear or injure the carton in any manner and, if desired, the carton imay again be promptly and effectively closed and locked simply by replacing the empty or partially empty cansin the carton and pushing the closing flaps back-into the locking positionas shown in Figs. and 6.

Obviously, the. specific embodiment: of the closing ex-' pedient as above described may benrnodified in various ways without: departing from the scope of the present invention. The'wembodiment herein described is designed to provide 'a-rather full view of the contents of the carton. If this is not desired, a full closing panel (either double or single) may be used, in which 'caseithe anchoring flapsas shown in the drawings would be threesided cutsinvtheiclosing panel (or panels). Further, if desired, similar: anchoring: flaps would be provided for wedging and vlocking between the two end cans in the same-manner as the illustrated flaps wedge and lock be tween each end can and the side'of the carton. Likewise: thesclosing panels, as illustrated, may be made larger to cover a greater portion of the end of the car ton, in which. case the anchoring flaps would be short enedi: The essential factor is that the anchoring flaps have sufiici'ent area, depending upon the strength and resiliency of'the board used, toprovide a firm locking engagement.- Furthermore, sides and-ends may be transposedwithout'departingfrorn the present invention. To that end, the word panel as usedin the: appended claims shall be interpreted broadly to cover. any area of the carton material which serves to keep the contents in the carton. Likewise the term carton as used in the claims is used in its broadest sense as meaning any kind of package whereby the containers are held together. Obviously the present inventionis not limited to a completely enclosed box or; indeed, to a six-sided structure. These and other modifications may be employed without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in' the following claims.

1.=A package comprising a group of upright cylindrical cans that are substantially in engagement with each otherga carton having-vertical opposed end panels extending ='over-twoof :the laterally oppositely outwardly faciug sides of'sa'id group in substantial engagementwith one of the sides of the cans ateach of said sides of the group and panel extensionsintegral with said end panels along "their opposite vertical edges but otherwise free from securement to said end panels, said end panel ex tensions extendinginto said carton to positions between said end panels andsaidcans-adjacent thereto with said last mentioned cans solely holding said end extensions "tlieir said positions, top "and bottornpanels'extend ing betweenand' integral with said end panels and extending over the upper and lower ends of the cans of said group substantially in engagement therewith, spaced top and bottom panel extensions respectively on said top and bottom panels extendingfrom end to end thereof along their opposite edgesf'saidtop and bottom panel extensions being in substantiallyrcoplananrelationship and with their free edges in spaced relation and extending over the laterally facing sides of "themans' along" the other" two opposite sides'of'said groupat'the' upperand lower ends" of "said cans only, and su'bsta-ntially'dnengagement with said laterally facing sides, and means integrally com necting side top and botto'm'panelextensions with said endpanel extensi-ons at the ends of the paneIs' carryIng them and holding said top andbott'om pa'ne'l extensions in their positions extending over said cans whereby said cans will be held in said carton by said top and bottom panel extensions through their connections -witl'i said tween "said end panel extensions and the said eans" ad jacent thereto.

2. A packagewcomprising a group of upright cylindrical canstthatare substantially, in engagement with-teach: other, a carton having ,VfilitlCRlopposed end-='panels .ex-Z-t tending over two ofv the-s laterally E oppositely outwardly: facing sides of said :group in substantial engagement with one ofthe sides of the canssat 'each of saidsides of-thegroup, and panel extensions integral with said end panels along, {their opposite vertical edges but otherwise" free from Tsecurementto saidend panels, saidend 'panel'extensions extendinginto said carton-to positions between said end panels and said cans adjacent thereto'with saidf last mentioned cans solely holding said end extensions in their. said positions, top andubottom panels extending bet-ween anddntegral with said end panelsand extending: over the upper and lower ends of the cans'of said group substantiallydn engagement therewith spaced top and bottom panel extensionsrespectively on said top: and bottom panels extending along their opposite edges,: said top and bottomypanel" extensions beingqin substantially coplanar relationship and with their free edges in spaced relation and extending over the laterally facing sidesof the cansalong the other two opposite sides of said groupi at the upper and lower ends of said cans only and substantially in engagement with said' laterally facing sides, and means integrally connecting said topand bottom panel extensions with said end panel extensions at:' the'- ends of the panels carrying them and'holding said top and bottom panel extensions in their positions'extending over'said cans whereby'said' cans will be held in said carton by said top and bottom panel extensions'thro'ugh their connections with said end panelexten'sionsand by the holding engagement between said end panelexterb sions and the saidcans adjacent thereto.

3. A package'comprising a group-of'uprigh't cylindrical containers that are substantially in engagement with each other, a-carton' having vertical opposed end panels ex tending over two of the laterally oppositely outwardly facing sidesof said groupin substantial engagement'with' one of the sides of the containers at each of said sides of the gro'up, and panel extensions integral with said and panels along their Opposite vertical edges but otherwise free from securem'ent to said end panels, said end panel extensions extending into said carton to positions be-" tween said end panelsand saidcontainers adjacent thereto with said last mentioned containers solelyholding said endextensions in their said positions, top and bottom: panels extending between and secured to said end panelsand extending over the upper and lower ends of the con-" miners of said group substantially in engagementthere i with, said -top and boltompanels and said end panels together defining an end loading carton, at least one ofsaid top and bottom panels having are: side edge thereof ex tending between said end wall panels a container retain ingextension attached thereto and extending over the adjacenrend tportions" only of Y the laterally facing sides of References Cited in the file of this patent or the original patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Grochau May 19, 1908 Kinkenon Mar. 10, 1936 Lighter Feb. 26, 1946 Lighter Apr. 17, 1951 Hennessey May 22, 1951 Emridk Aug. 21, 1951 Fisher Sept. 23, 1952 Williamson July 19, 1955 

